Tuesday, October 13, 2015

The ACE Escape - a strategic and collaborative team building game




 Impactful and effective team building activities are real.
They provide an opportunity for teams to practice teamwork by harnessing their individual skills and talents to complete the task.

A perfect activity matches the degree of difficulty with the capability of the group...too easy and it is boring, too difficult and it is frustrating.

Ideally, the task should be complex, multi faceted and cumulative so that information or successes achieved during the activity are required throughout the exercise.

The ACE Escape is our newest team activity and it is ideal for small groups that wish to practice collaboration, problem solving and effective communication.

Teams need to split the problem into individual tasks but keep each other updated as new information is revealed.  A clue in isolation has no value however when it is combined with other facts a breakthrough may occur.



The game is intense, enjoyable and provides a great opportunity for teams to work together on a complex problem that has time pressure and many unknowns. It provides an opportunity for a meaningful debrief about the way the group worked together, what they did well and how they can improve.


There is no such thing as a perfect team building activity however the ACE Escape is ideal for small groups wanting to practice their teamwork skills. The game is portable, non-weather dependent and not physically demanding. Most importantly, it is engaging and fun.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Team building and life skills for children


What was your most significant and transformational learning experience at school? Was it music, PE, science or French? In Dead Poets Society the teacher inspires his students through the teaching of poetry. At Mt Eliza Primary, the students are extremely fortunate to be involved in a life changing program called Kitchen Garden. It is amazing for a variety of reasons:

1. Children learn life skills
Children learn how to cook which is an important skill they will have for the rest of their lives. As an adult I have a small repertoire of meals that I prepare at home on a rotational basis.  However since becoming a parent helper the menu of meals that I regularly cook has dramatically increased. The children are very lucky to be introduced to a wide variety of healthy meals from all over the world. As a helper I have learned how to make fresh pasta with a pasta maker. I have also learned to make Japanese pancakes, Greek spanokopita, Thai curries, pumpkin bread, beetroot brownies and an amazing pasta sauce with roast cauliflower, pumpkin and basil.


2. Children learn to try new food
How do you get children to eat more vegetables? As a parent, I have had limited success getting my children to consume healthy foods at home. Yet every week during the Kitchen Garden program I am stunned as children devour the food that has been prepared. Children are encouraged to sample all the food and they are frequently delighted when they discover that fresh vegetables can be delicious. It’s hard trying to get your children to eat cabbage at home but when it is an ingredient in Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes) there are no leftovers.  Food comprising silver beet, zucchini, pumpkin, cabbage and cauliflower are happily eaten.

3. Children learn to follow instructions
A kitchen is a dangerous place with many hazards so there is a huge focus on safety.  I would have thought that the meals would be simple and kid friendly but this is not the case.  The instructions involve many steps, lots of ingredients and the use of large knives. The children are taught how to do things correctly and they are closely supervised to prevent accidents. The meals are delicious and restaurant quality. A typical meal might be a rice salad with a lentil curry and Naan bread and a raspberry macaroon for dessert.

4. Parents learn too
At our home there has been a transformation. My child volunteers to help in the kitchen. Last week he helped cut up all the vegetables and then helped make fresh pasta. I then watched him eat all his dinner and then help with the washing up. Why do I love kitchen garden? I feel like our lives have changed for the better.  Spending time in the kitchen no longer feels like a chore. We are spending more time shopping for fresh ingredients and more time preparing food but it is worth it. We are making delicious fresh meals and the kids are eating healthy food.

5. Personal Development
The children are empowered, enthusiastic and fully engaged. They want to help with every task whether it is cutting vegetables, stirring a curry or kneading bread dough. Children learn teamwork, collaboration and the importance of each person's contribution to the greater good. Four work groups prepare a meal course that comes together for a finale that is a delicious group feast.
Children volunteer to stay back during recess and help with the washing up in the hope that they may be given an extra serve of dessert.

6. It’s fun
All the children are engaged in the session and share in the triumphs created. It is a sensory delight with fragrant herbs, exotic spices and the hustle and energy of a commercial kitchen.

The Kitchen Garden program helps to develop students' self confidence in a fun and dynamic environment. I have no doubt that when students reflect on their experience at school they will appreciate how lucky they were to be part of such an excellent and worthwhile program.










Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Corporate Social Responsibility - at what cost?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs are gaining traction as a form of team building in which companies volunteer their time to do something for the social good. Whether the activity is building bikes for underprivileged children or revegetating a local reserve, who should pay?


 
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There seems to be a perception that if people are donating their time, then everything else should be provided, but by whom? Government agencies and volunteer organisations rely on funding and sponsorship and they don't have the resources to coordinate and supervise corporate programs.

A typical revegetation day involves transportation, catering, personal protective equipment such as gloves and eye protection and the provision of seedings, weedmat, specialist contractors and equipment including wheel barrows, tree planters and loppers.

Companies that contact the appropriate agency at a fortuitous time may be able to access Government funding for a specific event but once this funding has been spent then the opportunity no longer exists for the next group.

For CSR programs to be able to run the entire event needs to be self funded, and this may be a surprise to companies that assume that volunteer work is free. It remains to be seen whether an appropriate funding or sponsorship model can be developed to enable these programs to be run on a regular basis.